Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
